Blessed Pope Pius IX

Pope Pius IX (Italian: Pio IX; 13 May 1792 – 7
February 1878), born Giovanni Maria Mastai-Ferretti, reigned as Pope
from 16 June 1846 to his death in 1878. He was the longest-reigning elected
pope in the history of the Catholic Church, serving for over 31 years. During
his pontificate, Pius IX convened the First Vatican Council (1869–70), which
decreed papal infallibility, but the council was cut short due to the loss of
the Papal States.

Pius IX defined the dogma of the Immaculate Conception of the
Blessed Virgin Mary and conferred the title Our Mother of Perpetual Help on a
famous Byzantine icon from Crete entrusted to the Redemptorists.

He was also the last pope to rule as the Sovereign of the Papal
States, which fell completely to the Italian Army in 1870 and were incorporated
into the Kingdom of Italy. After this, he was referred to – chiefly by himself
– as the "Prisoner of the Vatican".

After his death in 1878, his canonization process was opened on 11
February 1907 by Pope Pius X and it drew considerable controversy over the
years. It was closed on several occasions during the pontificates of Pope
Benedict XV and Pope Pius XI. On 7 December 1954, Pope Pius XII re-opened the
cause and Pope John Paul II proclaimed him Venerable on 6 July 1985. Together
with Pope John XXIII, he was beatified on 3 September 2000 after the
recognition of a miracle. Pius IX was assigned the liturgical feast day of
February 7, the date of his death.

~ Source: Wikipedia

The Following item from the Papal Collection displayed in Philadelphia during Pope Francis Visit: